Owning and Modifying a Vehicle
If public transportation won''t work for you or if you just want the flexibility of having your own vehicle, you might want to consider purchasing a car or van. Many people with disabilities are qualified to drive a vehicle, if it has been suitably modified. Check the following for information on being evaluated as a driver, as well as how to purchase, modify, and pay for your own vehicle.
Driver Evaluations
The Easter Seals Mobility Center provides pre-driving screenings, as well as car and van evaluations, in order to determine if you can safely operate a motor vehicle. The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Handicapped Driver Training Unit also provides evaluation, training, testing, and licensing, based on the standards of visual ability required for driving.
Modifying Your Vehicle
Vehicle modifications are any mechanical or structural changes to a passenger car, van, or other motor vehicle that permit an individual with a disability to safely drive, or ride as a passenger. Vehicle modifications also include wheelchair or scooter loaders, which mount on the roof, in the passenger area, or in the trunk or other storage areas of a car, van, or other motor vehicle. Before you buy a car or van, please keep in mind that there are other ongoing costs of owning a vehicle, such as registration, licensing, insurance, and maintenance. Note that any modifications must be insured, and the vehicle to be modified must have power steering, power brakes, and automatic transmission. For more detailed information about the policies and procedures related to vehicle modification, please visit the The Connecticut Bureau of Rehabilitation Website.
Purchasing a Vehicle
If you have found a suitable vehicle, do not purchase it until your consultation, driver evaluation, vehicle modification prescription, employment plan, and the bidding process have been completed. Before you spend any money, please contact the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. For general ideas about funding this large purchase, see the paying for a vehicle section. For more detailed information or for general information on the impact of earnings on benefits, contact the Connect to Work Center at 1-800-773-4636.
How to Pay for Your Vehicle
Individual Development Accounts (IDA) are matched savings plans, which must be used for goals related to employment, and are designed for people with low and moderate incomes. IDA programs which use only federal funds do not consider a vehicle to be an employment-related objective. There are a few programs in Connecticut, however, which use other funding sources and allow participants to save up for a car if it is necessary for employment. You do not need to be on Social Security to have an IDA. For information on IDA programs around the state, call United Way''s 211 service.
Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) allow individuals and families with low incomes to submit an EITC form to the IRS and get money back, even if they did not pay any federal income tax. Amounts can be substantial and could be used for the purchase of a car, or to help with other transportation costs.
A Special Needs Trust is an irrevocable trust established for the benefit of an individual with a disability, usually by the individual''s parents, grandparents, legal guardian, or the court. Money in a trust can be used to purchase a car and to pay for related expenses, such as upkeep, repairs, insurance, and fuel. Social Security reviews Special Needs Trusts to see if they will be counted as assets for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The State also reviews trusts to determine if they will be counted as assets for State Benefit programs such as Medicaid.
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are monies that someone on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays out-of-pocket for an expense related to his or her disability in order to work. IRWE can be transportation expenses. Although the purchase of a car is not an acceptable expense, it is acceptable to declare mileage for an adapted vehicle for transportation to work. Mileage can also be considered as IRWE, if someone needs to use a car instead of public transportation due to agoraphobia (or another condition) that affects their ability to ride a bus. The costs of special transportation, paying a driver, or taking a cab to work may also be IRWE. The cost of vehicle modifications paid out-of-pocket may also be approved as IRWE.
If on SSI, benefits are reduced less due to earnings so that SSI is actually subsidizing the cost of the IRWE. If on SSDI, deducting an IRWE from gross earnings may bring the value of those earnings below Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), the amount at which Social Security considers an individual to be capable of earning enough that s/he no longer receives a cash benefit.
There is no plan required to have IRWE and no prior approval is given. Proof of expenses for IRWE, with explanations as to why those expenses are needed, is provided to Social Security at time of work reviews.
Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS) is a Social Security work incentive that allows people on SSI and/or SSDI to save part of their earnings, and/or unearned income such as SSDI, for goods or services needed to achieve or maintain a vocational goal. A PASS must be approved in advance by Social Security. A car necessary to work (i.e., add more hours, get to a location where there are appropriate jobs, or for other justifiable reasons) may be accepted as a vocational goal.
Funding Sources
If you are not eligible for assistance from BRS, there may be other potential funding sources such as:
• Connecticut Tech Act Project (1-800-537-2549) - Assistive Technology Loan Program (low-interest loan to purchase AT for home, school, recreation or more)
• Division of Workers'' Rehabilitation (1-860-493-1500) - Workers'' Compensation
• Department of Veterans'' Affairs (860-529-2571; 203-932-5711) for veterans with service-connected disabilities
• Office of Victim Services (1-800-822-8428) for persons whose disabilities resulted from a crime
• Donations from civic/religious organizations or other private grant sources such as foundations
• Disability-specific organizations, such as The Spinal Cord Injury Association, MS Society, MDA, etc.
VECHILE MODIFICATIONS COMPANIES IN CONNECTICUT
Advanced Wheels
15F International Drive
East Granby, CT 06026
Phone: 860-653-8064
www.advancedwheels.com
Ride Away
104 Pitkin Street
East Hartford, CT 06108
Phone: (860) 282-8202
www.ride-away.com